BACKGROUND: We are a family of 2 ads and 2ch (aged 6 and 5) from England, we love holidays and myself and my wife are fairly well travelled (cruised twice before once with RCI on sovereign of the seas and once with P and o on Oriana). We wanted to test the kids with a longish flight and give them a bit of wow factor in terms of the ship and the Caribbean(not to dump them in kids club). Which is why we decided to book the Freedom of the seas.

PRE CRUISE: Flew virgin LHR - MIA great service and kids were fine. We stayed at the Hilton hotel on Biscayne boulevard 2nts prior to the cruise. The hotel was great in all aspects and I would definitely stay there again. (I have posted a review on the hotel on trip advisor if your interested (paid £98 per night for room with 2 double beds).

EMBARKATION: Picked up from hotel at 1130. 5 min drive to terminal. Cases dropped off by driver to porters and that was the last we saw of them until about 1630 (no tip required). Got through Passport and security and check in, in only 20 minutes. So from hotel to stepping on board the ship took no more than 40 minutes. Read more